Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “research opportunities”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Artificial Intelligence for Energy Systems Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence and machine learning systems have the potential to influence the future design and implementation of cybersecurity systems for the power grid. These systems may enhance the overall operation of the power system by leveraging and making sense of massive amounts of data. However, we must also understand how AI/ML will need to be protected from cyber threat actors. We discuss the existing insights the NREL team has developed using AI/ML systems and then present resources including ESIF and the Cyber Energy Emulation Platform that can be used to generate training data and insights. We end by offering suggestions on priority research paths for AI in cybersecurity.

artificial intelligence↗
DOE OSTI2022

Snowmass Computational Frontier: Topical Group Report on Experimental Algorithm Parallelization

The substantial increase in data volume and complexity expected from future experiments will require significant investment to prepare experimental algorithms. These algorithms include physics object reconstruction, calibrations, and processing of observational data. In addition, the changing computing architecture landscape, which will be primarily composed of heterogeneous resources, will continue to pose major challenges with regard to algorithmic migration. Portable tools need to be developed that can be shared among the frontiers (e.g., for code execution on different platforms) and opportunities, such as forums or cross-experimental working groups, need to be provided where experiences and lessons learned can be shared between experiments and frontiers. At the same time, individual experiments also need to invest considerable resources to develop algorithms unique to their needs (e.g., for facilities dedicated to the experiment), and ensure that their specific algorithms will be able to efficiently exploit external heterogeneous computing facilities. Common software tools represent a cost-effective solution, providing ready-to-use software solutions as well as a platform for R&D work. These are particularly important for small experiments which typically do not have dedicated resources needed to face the challenges imposed by the evolving computing technologies. Workforce development is a key concern across frontiers and experiments, and additional support is needed to provide career opportunities for researchers working in the field of experimental algorithm development. Finally, cross-discipline collaborations going beyond high-energy physics are a key ingredient to address the challenges ahead and more support for such collaborations needs to be created. This report targets future experiments, observations and experimental algorithm development for the next 10-15 years.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Use of Machine Learning for Signature Development in a Multi-Sensor Environment for Safeguard Applications of Solvent Extraction Processes

Idaho National Laboratory is constructing the Special Nuclear Material test bed (Beartooth) for research and development pertaining to nuclear fuel processing operations using centrifugal contactors. Beartooth will enable give researchers the opportunity to study the dissolution, separation, and conversion of special nuclear materials (e.g., plutonium, enriched uranium, and thorium). As a lead-in to Beartooth, this project constructed a test bed to study the process and equipment behavior with real time series data collection using a variety of non-traditional sensors, in order to identify process failures and label them as either accidental or purposeful, thus enhancing nuclear nonproliferation stewardship. The measurement sources in this test bed include vibration, acoustic, current, flow, colorimetric, and thermal data. These measurements vary in terms of magnitude, frequency, and location. This information will be combined and used within data-driven machine-learning methods to detect operation condition changes that are either intentional (i.e., changes in operating set points) or malicious (i.e., flow diversion) in nature. This presentation covers the data processing and signature development activities necessary for utilizing this heterogeneous dataset to classify process anomalies.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data Challenges in Multi-Sensor Data Science System for Monitoring a Solvent Extraction Process

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is maintaining and gaining knowledge into the nuclear fuel cycle by building a test bed to allow researchers the opportunity to study nuclear fuel processing operations. This includes studying solvent extraction processes that use centrifugal contactors. As part of INL’s mission, the goal of this project is to develop a system that utilizes non-traditional measurement sources such as vibration, acoustics, current, light, flow, and temperature in conjunction with data-based, machine learning techniques that will allow for signal discovery. This multisensory data can support the development of safeguards by design, provide operator process awareness, and discover process anomalies. This poster will highlight some of the data collection and analytics challenges for the multi-sensor system as well as the mitigation strategies to build a robust system. Additionally, some preliminary data from the first testing campaign will be shown to help illustrate the data needs of the system.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2023

Preliminary Results of a Multi-Sensor Data Science System for Monitoring a Solvent Extraction Process

Idaho National Laboratory is building a test bed to allow researchers the opportunity to study nuclear fuel processing operations. This includes studying the solvent extraction process and the use of centrifugal contactors. The goal of this project is to develop a system that utilizes non-traditional measurement sources such as vibration, acoustics, current, color, flow, and temperature in conjunction with data-based, machine learning techniques that will allow for signal discovery. This multi-sensor data supports the development of safeguards by design, provides operator process awareness, and aids in the discovery of process anomalies. This paper highlights some of the preliminary results from initial data collection campaigns and shares some of the lessons learned.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of a Multi-Sensor Data Science System Used for Signature Development on Solvent Extraction Processes in support of safeguards- an overview

A new nuclear fuel cycle test bed is being built at Idaho National Laboratory to support the purification of special nuclear material recovered from used fuel. The test bed provides an opportunity to research process flow and the application of computational tools in solvent extraction processes. A deeper understanding of process and equipment behavior coupled with real time data collection can indicate whether a process failure is accidental or purposeful. The goal of this project is to develop a system that utilizes non-traditional measurement sources such as vibration, acoustics, current, light, flow, and temperature in conjunction with data-based, machine learning techniques that will allow for signal discovery. This multi-sensor data can support the development of safeguards by design and security by design measures for such a facility. Additionally, it can aid in early detection and identification of removed materials indicating diversion, which is essential for initiating material recovery and actor identification. This overview encompasses the current research and testing of sensors to develop a spectrum of process signatures. To be followed by planned experiments aimed to characterize said signatures and study potential feature extraction techniques to identify a fault in the system (i.e. flow diversion).

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2024

How to Build a Quantum Supercomputer: Scaling from Hundreds to Millions of Qubits

In the span of four decades, quantum computation has evolved from an intellectual curiosity to a potentially realizable technology. Today, small-scale demonstrations have become possible for quantum algorithmic primitives on hundreds of physical qubits and proof-of-principle error-correction on a single logical qubit. Nevertheless, despite significant progress and excitement, the path toward a full-stack scalable technology is largely unknown. There are significant outstanding quantum hardware, fabrication, software architecture, and algorithmic challenges that are either unresolved or overlooked. These issues could seriously undermine the arrival of utility-scale quantum computers for the foreseeable future. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of these scaling challenges. We show how the road to scaling could be paved by adopting existing semiconductor technology to build much higher-quality qubits, employing system engineering approaches, and performing distributed quantum computation within heterogeneous high-performance computing infrastructures. These opportunities for research and development could unlock certain promising applications, in particular, efficient quantum simulation/learning of quantum data generated by natural or engineered quantum systems. To estimate the true cost of such promises, we provide a detailed resource and sensitivity analysis for classically hard quantum chemistry calculations on surface-code error-corrected quantum computers given current, target, and desired hardware specifications based on superconducting qubits, accounting for a realistic distribution of errors. Furthermore, we argue that, to tackle industry-scale classical optimization and machine learning problems in a cost-effective manner, heterogeneous quantum-probabilistic computing with custom-designed accelerators should be considered as a complementary path toward scalability.

Mohseni, Masoud↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evidential Deep Learning for Probabilistic Modelling of Extreme Storm Events

Uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods play an important role in reducing errors in weather forecasting. Conventional approaches in UQ for weather forecasting rely on generating an ensemble of forecasts from physics-based simulations to estimate the uncertainty. However, it is computationally expensive to generate many forecasts to predict real-time extreme weather events. Evidential Deep Learning (EDL) is an uncertainty-aware deep learning approach designed to provide confidence about its predictions using only one forecast. It treats learning as an evidence acquisition process where more evidence is interpreted as increased predictive confidence. We apply EDL to storm forecasting using real-world weather datasets and compare its performance with traditional methods. Our findings indicate that EDL not only reduces computational overhead but also enhances predictive uncertainty. This method opens up novel opportunities in research areas such as climate risk assessment, where quantifying the uncertainty about future climate is crucial.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS2016

NASA Johnson Space Center Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Successes, Infusion and Commercializations and Potential International Partnering Opportunities

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has served as a beneficial funding vehicle to both US small technology businesses and the Federal Agencies that participate in the program. This paper, to the extent possible, while observing Intellectual Property (IP) laws, will discuss the many SBIR and STTR (SBIR Technology Transfer) successes in the recent history of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Many of the participants of the International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) have based their research and papers on technologies that were made possible by SBIR/STTR awards and post award funding. Many SBIR/STTR successes have flown on Space Shuttle missions, Space X Dragons, and other spacecraft. SBIR/STTR technologies are currently infused on the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites, one of which was a NASA/JAXA (Japanese Space Agency) joint venture. Many of these companies have commercialized their technologies and grown as businesses while helping the economy through the creation of new jobs. In addition, this paper will explore the opportunity for international partnership with US SBIR/STTR companies as up to 49% of the makeup of the company is not required to be American owned. Although this paper will deal with technical achievements, it does not purport to be technical in nature. It will address the many requests for information on successes and opportunities within NASA SBIR and the virtually untapped potential of international partnering.

Packard, Kathryn↗
NASA NTRS1987

Issues in space photovoltaic research and technology

Key issues and opportunities in space photovoltaic research and technology are addressed relative to future NASA mission requirements and drivers. Examples are given of future space missions and/or operational capabilities that are on NASA's planning horizon presenting major tachnology challenges to the use of photovoltaic power generation in space. A brief description of the capabilities ascribed to the competing technologies of nuclear and solar thermal power systems are given. The performance goals that space photovoltaic power systems must meet to remain competitive are described.

Flood, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Issues in space photovoltaic research and technology

Key issues and opportunities in space photovoltaic research and technology are addressed relative to future NASA mission requirements and drivers. Examples are given of future space missions and/or operational capabilities that are on NASA's planning horizon, presenting major technology challenges to the use of photovoltaic power generation in space. A brief description of the capabilities ascribed to the competing technologies of nuclear and solar thermal power systems are discussed. The performance goals that space photovoltaic power systems must meet to remain competitive are described.

Flood, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Introduction of the NASA Microgravity Research Library

As opportunities for conducting experiments in space are rare, more studies have been published using ground-based analogs that simulate microgravity conditions. For example, when conducting a literature search in PubMed for peer-reviewed articles and studies that used simulated microgravity conditions, results will yield over 5,000 publications dating back to 1961. The issue with this search technique and medium is that these articles are vast in quantity and spread out across multiple web-based databases, repositories, and libraries; some of which, are wholly inaccessible. For example, in PubMed for a single year, we found 1,000+ microgravity research articles among more than 12,000 general, space research articles; these, were within an overarching 350,000+ total, general medical research articles for just 2020. The KSC Microgravity Simulation Support Facility (MSSF), with support from the KSC Information Technology (IT) Applications Development Team and the NASA Space Biology Program, took the initiative to develop a database that would serve as the central repository for existing microgravity research. This repository site is open to the public and houses not only peer-reviewed publications relating to microgravity research, but also dissertations, technical publications such as white papers, NASA technical publications, and patent publications. In this presentation, we will discuss some of our literature research findings as well as present a working prototype version of the Library. It is our goal that the future infrastructure of this database advance to become a fully-functional, NASA Space Life-Sciences Research Library.

Anna Maria Ruby↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Introduction of the NASA Microgravity Research Library

As opportunities for conducting experiments in space are rare, more studies have been published using ground-based analogs that simulate microgravity conditions. For example, when conducting a literature search in PubMed for peer-reviewed articles and studies that used simulated microgravity conditions, results will yield over 5,000 publications dating back to 1961. The issue with this search technique and medium is that these articles are vast in quantity and spread out across multiple web-based databases, repositories, and libraries; some of which, are wholly inaccessible. For example, in PubMed for a single year, we found 1,000+ microgravity research articles among more than 12,000 general, space research articles; these, were within an overarching 350,000+ total, general medical research articles for just 2020. The KSC Microgravity Simulation Support Facility (MSSF), with support from the KSC Information Technology (IT) Applications Development Team and the NASA Space Biology Program, took the initiative to develop a database that would serve as the central repository for existing microgravity research. This repository site is open to the public and houses not only peer-reviewed publications relating to microgravity research, but also dissertations, technical publications such as white papers, NASA technical publications, and patent publications. In this presentation, we will discuss some of our literature research findings as well as present a working prototype version of the Library. It is our goal that the future infrastructure of this database advance to become a fully-functional, NASA Space Life-Sciences Research Library.

Anna Maria Ruby↗
NASA NTRS2020

Windows of Opportunity for Skillful Forecasts Subseasonal to Seasonal and Beyond

There is high demand and a growing expectation for predictions of environmental conditions that go beyond 0–14-day weather forecasts with outlooks extending to one or more seasons and beyond. This is driven by the needs of the energy, water management, and agriculture sectors, to name a few. There is an increasing realization that, unlike weather forecasts, prediction skill on longer time scales can leverage specific climate phenomena or conditions for a predictable signal above the weather noise. Currently, it is understood that these conditions are intermittent in time and have spatially heterogeneous impacts on skill, hence providing strategic windows of opportunity for skillful forecasts. Research points to such windows of opportunity, including El Niño or La Niña events, active periods of the Madden–Julian oscillation, disruptions of the stratospheric polar vortex, when certain large-scale atmospheric regimes are in place, or when persistent anomalies occur in the ocean or land surface. Gains could be obtained by increasingly developing prediction tools and metrics that strategically target these specific windows of opportunity. Across the globe, reevaluating forecasts in this manner could find value in forecasts previously discarded as not skillful. Users’ expectations for prediction skill could be more adequately met, as they are better aware of when and where to expect skill and if the prediction is actionable. Given that there is still untapped potential, in terms of process understanding and prediction methodologies, it is safe to expect that in the future forecast opportunities will expand. Process research and the development of innovative methodologies will aid such progress.

Annarita Mariotti↗
DOE OSTI2023

Actinide targets for the synthesis of superheavy nuclei

The use of heavy actinide targets, including 243 Am, 240,242,244 Pu, 245,248 Cm, 249 Bk, and 249 Cf, irradiated by intense heavy ion beams of 48 Ca has resulted in a significant expansion of the periodic table since 2000, including the discovery of five new heaviest elements and more than 50 new isotopes. These actinide materials can only be produced by intense neutron irradiation in very high flux reactors followed by chemical processing and purification in specialized hot cell facilities available in only a few locations worldwide. This paper reviews the reactor production of heavy actinides, the recovery and chemical separation of actinide materials, and the preparation of actinide targets for superheavy element experiments. The focus is on 248 Cm, 249 Bk, mixed 249–251 Cf, and 254 Es, including current availabilities and new production processes. The impacts of new facilities, including the Superheavy Element Factory at Dubna, accelerator and separator upgrades at RIKEN, and proposed upgrades to the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge are also described. Examples of recent superheavy element research are discussed as well as future opportunities for superheavy research using actinide targets.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Space Station Freedom Utilization Conference. Executive summary

The Space Station Freedom Utilization Conference was held on 3-6 Aug. 1992 in Huntsville, Alabama. The purpose of the conference was to bring together prospective space station researchers and the people in NASA and industry with whom they would be working to exchange information and discuss plans and opportunities for space station research. Topics covered include: research capabilities; research plans and opportunities; life sciences research; technology research; and microgravity research and biotechnology.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1997

Microgravity Science and Applications: Program Tasks and Bibliography for Fiscal Year 1996

NASA's Microgravity Science and Applications Division (MSAD) sponsors a program that expands the use of space as a laboratory for the study of important physical, chemical, and biochemical processes. The primary objective of the program is to broaden the value and capabilities of human presence in space by exploiting the unique characteristics of the space environment for research. However, since flight opportunities are rare and flight research development is expensive, a vigorous ground-based research program, from which only the best experiments evolve, is critical to the continuing strength of the program. The microgravity environment affords unique characteristics that allow the investigation of phenomena and processes that are difficult or impossible to study an Earth. The ability to control gravitational effects such as buoyancy driven convection, sedimentation, and hydrostatic pressures make it possible to isolate phenomena and make measurements that have significantly greater accuracy than can be achieved in normal gravity. Space flight gives scientists the opportunity to study the fundamental states of physical matter-solids, liquids and gasses-and the forces that affect those states. Because the orbital environment allows the treatment of gravity as a variable, research in microgravity leads to a greater fundamental understanding of the influence of gravity on the world around us. With appropriate emphasis, the results of space experiments lead to both knowledge and technological advances that have direct applications on Earth. Microgravity research also provides the practical knowledge essential to the development of future space systems. The Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA) is responsible for planning and executing research stimulated by the Agency's broad scientific goals. OLMSA's Microgravity Science and Applications Division (MSAD) is responsible for guiding and focusing a comprehensive program, and currently manages its research and development tasks through five major scientific areas: biotechnology, combustion science, fluid physics, fundamental physics, and materials science. FY 1996 was an important year for MSAD. NASA continued to build a solid research community for the coming space station era. During FY 1996, the NASA Microgravity Research Program continued investigations selected from the 1994 combustion science, fluid physics, and materials science NRAS. MSAD also released a NASA Research Announcement in microgravity biotechnology, with more than 130 proposals received in response. Selection of research for funding is expected in early 1997. The principal investigators chosen from these NRAs will form the core of the MSAD research program at the beginning of the space station era. The third United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3) and the Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) missions yielded a wealth of microgravity data in FY 1996. The USMP-3 mission included a fluids facility and three solidification furnaces, each designed to examine a different type of crystal growth.

Source record↗